On Wednesday, February 4, 2015 1:00 PM, Birmingham City Council wrote:

"Federal Transportation Summit in Birmingham to Discuss Expansion

Birmingham is one step closer to becoming the hub for transportation needs in the Southeast region. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s office of small business and the city of Birmingham are hosting a transportation summit Feb. 6, 2015 at the Westin Hotel in downtown Birmingham. Transportation Committee Chairman Councilor Kim Rafferty says the city and region are at a critical part of expanding it’s transportation strategy policy. City Council President Johnathan Austin says this is another successful effort to keep Birmingham on the national map. Mayors from all over the country and the administrator of the highway department will also attend the summit. For more information go to www.birminghamalcitycouncil.org."Transportation Summit in Birmingham this Fridayyoutube.comLWVGB Hosts Public Transit Panel Discussion, Jan. 25, 2015See all event photos.

Many thanks to panelists Shirley Worthington (former director United Way Clastran, Chairman Black Belt Commission Transportation Committee), Ann Dawson-August (Executive Director BJCTA), and Nancy Ekberg (LWVGB Director Pubic Transportation Issues) for their excellent presentations today at LWVGB's Greater Birmingham public transit meeting at the Homewood Public Library. Those present were able to get questions answered and to recommend their own suggestions for improving the Greater Birmingham transit system. Thanks also to Mike D. Smith, traffic and transportation reporter for AL.com / The Birmingham News, and WIAT News 42 (WIAT.com), for covering this event. Pictured here (L-R) are Ann Smith (LWVGB Observer Corps Chair and logistics planner for this meeting), Leslie O'Neal (LWVGB member and public transit advocate), Yvonne Brakefield (LWVGB President), Shirley Worthington, Ruth Wright (long time public transit advocate and LWVGB member), Ann Dawson-August, and Nancy Ekberg.

UPDATE Jan. 26, 2015...

Transit needs leaders

Public transit needs a leader to take us forward in the Greater Birmingham area according to Shirley Worthington, public transit advocate, who spoke to a crowd who listened to a panel describe the past, present and future of public transit Sunday, January 25th.

The League of Women Voters sponsored the Sunday afternoon meeting at the Homewood Library.

Featured were Worthington, long time transit advocate who ran Clastran when it was under United Way; Ann Dawson-August, Executive Director of the BJCTA (MAX) and former Executive Director of the transit system in North Carolina;and Nancy Ekberg, Chair of Public Transit for the League.

Worthington described the difficulty in Alabama where there is no state planning or funding for transit, and groups who want to keep things just as they are to benefit their agendas. But her main push was to find leaders who would actually lead the effort for transit, and not just talk about how important it is. She said most people recognize that transit is an economic engine but that in Alabama it is often a race issue, or focused only on the elderly and handicapped.

We need leaders and we have one, in Ann Dawson-August, ED of MAX. She has improved service since she took office, adding more routes, reliability and even Saturday service plus Friday and Saturday evening service! She has brought e-mail availability so riders can track their busses. She recognizes the economic tool it is and meets with businesses to form partnerships.

The recent decision by the World Games to bring them here in 2021 is an incentive to improve transit in order to accommodate all the world travelers who will come to watch.

Handouts on current plans and on Birmingham's transit history were available.

From the audience, Rev. Lawton Higgs said he was seeking a grant that would fund grassroots efforts in Alabama for transit. And August mentioned a nationwide effort to ask states to set aside a day in April to focus citizens' attention on the need for public transit.

We will bring more information as Higgs' and August's transit promotion dates approach.

We asked for your gift to the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham on #GivingTuesday, December 2but it's never too late!*** GIVE TO LWVGB ***Great gift idea!

Does your mother really want another scarf? This holiday season, show your love by honoring her on #GivingTuesday, Dec. 2nd with a gift to the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham. Any woman would appreciate this thoughtfulness - a daughter, a niece, a neighbor who has shown you much kindness, a coworker or friend whom you deeply respect. Great gift idea for the special men in your life, too! Here is just some of the great work you'll be supporting in the Greater Birmingham community with your gift. Please give to the LWVGB at anytime! (Membership in the LWVGB is a very thoughtful gift for your loved one, too!)

Happy, Happy Holidays to you and yours from the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham!

The League of Women Voters offers an unbiased analysis of each amendment on your ballot. Who is for and who is against each amendment? What are the arguments for and against each amendment passes? Make an informed decision on November 4. Read the League's analysis of the proposed constitutional amendments. (Unbiased information published by the Education Fund of the League of Women Voters of Alabama.)

LWVGB's Annual Membership Mixer was a blast! Many interested in making the Greater Birmingham community a better place to live, dropped by Alamerica Bank on Nov. 16. It was free and all were welcome, men and women, members and non-members. We enjoyed casual and stimulating conversation with our guests over a glass of wine and light hors d'oeuvres. See the photos!

We shared information about the work that we do with those interested in joining our nonprofit, nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham. We enjoyed meeting all and getting their ideas for making democracy work better for everyone in our community. Members were excited to share the League's work with their friends! Thanks again to Alamerica Bank for your very gracious hospitality!

If you would like to join the League or have questions, contact LWVGB Membership Chair Catrena Norris Carter at catrena.whoswhoblackal@gmail.com or (205) 266-0304.

LWVGB Members Help Citizens Register and Exercise Their Right to Vote

THANK YOU, LWVGB VOLUNTEERS!We passed Alabama's voter registration deadline for the November 4 General Election on Monday, October 20, but during September and October, LWVGB pushed to register and educate as many voters as possible about the election process before that deadline. League members stepped up to register voters in Jefferson and Shelby Counties. The League’s voter registration activities were a fitting celebration of Constitution Day on September 17 and National Voter Registration Day on September 23. Watch this space for a full report on the League's voter registration effort to be published soon!

Speaking out for the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014

On Monday, Sept, 22, LWVGB Vice-President Ida Tyree-Hyche, Esq. urged citizens to “Move forward on voting rights!” at the Moral Monday rally on the Alabama capitol steps in Montgomery. The crowd was in full agreement. Click below to listen to the audio of her address. Other LWVGB members present in support were Nancy Ekberg, Connie Arnwine, Joan Burroughs, Catrena Norris Carter, and Ida's husband The Rev. Albert L. Hyche. More photos of the day's events coming soon.

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On Tuesday, September 23, LWVGB Celebrated National Voter Registration Day!

Thank you, Birmingham Firehouse Shelter Executive Director Anne Wright and all other staff for hosting LWVGB Voter Registration!We were glad to see so many residents and guests "celebrate democracy in America" by registering to vote on National Voter Registration Day, September 23! #CelebrateNVRD

LWVGB Celebrated U.S. Constitution Day by registering voters!Our U.S. Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787. What better way to celebrate and show your patriotism than registering to vote on Constitution Day!? The Nov. 4th election is fast approaching! LWVGB was there for those who needed to register to vote or change name or address on their registration. We got it done at Brown Mackie College (105 Vulcan Rd #100, Birmingham, AL 35209) and Jefferson State College,Shelby Co. Campus (4600 Valleydale Road, Birmingham, AL 35242)! Over two days and five shifts, LWVGB volunteers registered (or updated) 38 and gave out several more forms to be filled out and submitted. Many thanks to Nancy Sales, Rita and Jim Winkates, Joan Burroughs, Judith Hand, Jean and Pete Johnson, Kaydee Erdeich-Breman, Sybil Breman, Ann Smith and Connie Arnwine for volunteering for this successful voter registration effort.

LWVGB 2014 Business MeetingJune 19, 6 - 8 p.m.Sweet Tea Restaurant2205 3rd Avenue S.Birmingham, AL 35233LWVGB Members met to elect officers and board directors, set the general and Education Fund budgets, vote on changes in LWVGB bylaws, and decide what our issue program will be for 2014-2015. These are the proposals discussed and on which members voted: Business Meeting information and documents here.

LWVAL 2014 CouncilSaturday, April 26, 2014Bluff Park United Methodist Church733 Valley AvenueHoover, ALIt was an "A-Mazing" Council! Thanks to all LWVGB members who volunteered and extended your warm hospitality to our Magic City guests. A council report will be posted soon on the LWVAL website.

LWVGB Agriculture Update Consensus MeetingOn Sunday, March 16, 2014, members of the LWVGB came to consensus on questions regarding the League's position on agriculture in the United States. The members deliberated in the appropriate "great outdoors" of Tree House Room in the Vestavia Public Library.A report of the consensus deliberation has been submitted to the national League of Women Voters. In the grass-roots tradition that has been followed by the League of Women Voters since 1920, member responses to the consensus questions will determine the League's updated national position on agriculture.For member and public review, below are consensus information resources reviewed by members in answering the consensus questions. Many thanks to Nancy Ekberg, Connie Arnwine, Haley Colson and all members of the LWVGB Agriculture Study Committee for presenting this unbiased information in a neutral manner and guiding LWVGB members through the consensus process.

Not a member of the League of Women Voters? Join the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham to participate in future grassroots conversation that will help set the League's policy positions on local, state and national issues. Join the LWVGB.

Agriculture in the United States: A Public Discussion

Thank you for participating in the discussion of Agriculture in the U.S. held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4300 Hampton Heights Dr., Birmingham, AL on Sunday, February 23, 2014. A meeting report will be posted here soon. See photos of the event. Read the press release for this event.